November 23, 1998
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Province responds to federal MP on delays in provincial snowmobile trail initiative

Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, responded today to recent comments by Gerry Byrne, M.P. for Humber - St. Barbe -Baie Verte, which gave the impression that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is causing delays in the implementation of the provincial snowmobile trail initiative by not issuing the necessary development permits in a timely manner.

Minister Tulk said: "I can assure Mr. Byrne and the general public that the province is not standing in the way of this important economic development initiative. In fact, it is the province that has championed this initiative from the time a snowmobile industry development plan was presented to the federal and provincial governments by the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Snowmobile Clubs in the fall of 1997."

Minister Tulk went on to note that "the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador took the unusual step of committing $1.2 million in interim funding for this initiative in January 1998 while various federal government agencies considered the development plan in detail. The federal government concluded its review some eight months later and the funding package under the Canada-Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement was announced in August. However, even then, final details on federal funding were not worked out to the satisfaction of the federation until the end of October."

"Regrettably, the energy of the federation volunteers, who are the managers of this initiative, had to be directed to the lengthy federal approval process and this detracted them from completing all the documentation necessary to clear the project under the Environmental Assessment Act. Under the law, no permits or crown land licenses can be granted for any project until it is cleared under the Environmental Assessment Act," added the Minister.

"The federation is now nearing the end of its environmental documentation process and I have been assured by the Department of Environment and Labour that the matter will be handled as expeditiously as possible once it receives the final package of information," said Minister Tulk. "The federation understands the process which is required under the Environmental Assessment Act and has not expressed any concern to me that the project is being unduly delayed or otherwise placed in jeopardy by the province for implementation this year. If federal funding had been forthcoming in a more timely manner with the support of Mr. Byrne, this initiative would have started a long time ago. Having said that, I remain confident that the federation will be able to get it off the ground in the near future."

"It is unfortunate Mr. Byrne did not talk to the province or the federation on this matter before raising a concern publicly that has no basis in fact. I welcome Mr. Byrne's involvement and would encourage him to work in tandem with the province and the federation in moving this important economic development initiative forward in a positive manner," concluded Minister Tulk.

Contact: Scott Reid, Communications, (709) 729-4570

1998 11 23                       12:55 p.m.